Universal indicator for remote control deck sockets



July 3, 1945- E. l.. HADDEN 2,379,517

UNIVERSAL INDICATOR FOR REMOTE CONTROL DECK SOCKETS Filed Dec. 31, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l gil/,Ugg gbdww.

July 3, 1945; E L. HADDEN 2,379,517

. UNIVERSAL INDICATOR FOR REMOTE CONTROL DECK SOCKETS Filed Dec. 31. 194s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Afro/Mr plication in which:

carelessly inserted in the socket of the spindle. A My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readily understoodfby reference to the accompanying drawings which are hereunto annexed and form .ap

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved device some of the parts being shown ,in elevation; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

` Fig-'3 is a top or plan view ofmy devicewith the cover removed showing the indicia;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the operating means; Fig. 5 is a perspectivey view of the stationary sleeve on a reduced scale;

Fig. 6 is an expanded view of this sleeve; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the oscillating sleeve on a reduced scale;

Fig. 8 is an expanded view'of lthis sleeve;

art of jthis `aposcillating sleeve 21. When the spindle rotates, the frictional engagement between the shoulder 2I' and the flange 29 of said oscillating sleeve 21 causes partial rotation of said sleeve until its further rotation is stopped by the engagement of the pin 32 with a wall of the slot 28. A drain connection 25 is formed at the lower end of the housing 2 and a grease gun tting 26 is mounted in the'. bearingy for lubricating purposes. This fitting 26 should be removed when installing the device. An annular nut 3I is mounted upon the threaded portion 22 of the spindle. This nut 3l has a radially extending pin 32 which extends through a vertical slot in the oscillating sleeve 21 and into a corresponding helical slot I6 in the stationary sleeve I5. The outside surface of this nut 3| is partially spher- V ical, this enables it to act as a secondary bearing Fig. 9 is an expanded view with the stationary sleeve superimposed on' the oscillating sleeve;

Fig. 10 is a topyor plan viewwith the cover in place.

Similar reference numeralsrefer to similar parts throughout the entire speccation.

As shown in the vdrawings a fragmentary portion I, oa deck isshown. 'A cylindrical housing 2 is recessed into the deck I, and secured in place by screws 3, which pass through holes in al circumferential flange 5 at the topof the housing 2. The screws may be held in place by nuts 4. If needed va gasket (not shown) may be placed between the flange 5 and the deck' I, to

render its water proof. A cover B'is itted to inl, ternalthreads 1 out in the wall 8 of the housing 2. This cover 6 may be provided with a square socket 9 at its center'for thereception of a wrench III. Any other convenient formof unscrewing the cover maybeemploye'd. An annular labei plate' Il issecured to the flange 5 by means of screws I2, and may bear the word (I3) open andanarrow I4. A Y

A stationary sleeve I5 which is provided'with onev or more helical slots I6 is mounted in the housing. It has an inwardlyV extending flangel 8 the inner wall o f which "preferably tapers downwardly and inwardly and bears the words (I9) open and shut Screws 20 pass through Athe flange I8v and into the housing to hold the 'sleeve An oscillatingsleeve 21 is nested in stationary. l the stationary sleeve I5.v TheV sleeve 21 is provided with one or more vertical slots 28 adapted to'register with the helical slots in the sleeve I5.

A dot 30 or other desired markngis located on the flange 29adaptedto register witha line placed between the words Aopen and shut on the flange I8 of the stationary sleeve I5, see Fig. 3. A spindle ZI-whi'ch has'an enlarged threadserving as a support" for 'theflange',fill of the ed portion 22 and a reducedvneck or stem 23 is for the oscillating sleeve 21, as it fits with reasonable closeness. I make this surface spherical so as to permit the nut 3| to be tilted when assembling so that the projecting pin 32 'may be introduced into the selected slots.

I have shown a plurality of slots in both sleeves. I have found this very desirable owing to the fact that due to the war emergency it is not positively known beforehand just lwhich manufacturers valve is to be supplied for a given service. Therefore, the number of turns to open `or shut the valve is not known. It is the common practice now to machine the indicator threads and locate the indicator markings to suit the valve actually used for a given service after the valve is installed in the ship, and the indicator computations canbe made. This causes the difficulty of tailoring each indicator to suit its own valve thereby increasing the time and cost of installing the deck socket. Since the spindle whichhas indicator threads is a major part of the deck socket, the operating gear could not even be installed until the computations are completed and the necessary machining accomplished.

By providing the sleeves with a plurality of helical and corresponding vertical slots I overcome this diculty because of the wide selection of operating ranges, any one of which gives approximately the same reading for any valve Whose number of turns falls within the maximum range. VIt will be clear that my device can be completed with the exception of the installation of it in the ship, and the connection to the valve. The indicator range to be used can be selected after installation; and 'correctly assembled in a very few minutes thereby saving time and cost. This is true because there is a plurality of slots at diierent helix angles to each other with their corresponding vertical slots,y each pair of slots cover a part of the over-all range of 'the' indicator. The maximum capacities of different sizes of indicators are assumed to be reasonably well above the number of turns of a valve', which would normally be operated Iby each specic size. By dividing the maximum'range of turns into groups one group for each pair of slots it is possible to obtain approximately the same reading for open and shut anywhere between the n maximum and minimum specied for the indicator. This permits the manufacture of standard units which can easily be assembled "on the job to suit apparatus having a variety of turns from open to shu thus eliminating the "tailoring of each indicatorto its valve. Dueto war conditions it is not necessarily known beforehand whatI valve will be furnshedto theship, kthereplants etc. v

fore the exact number of turns'is not knownbeferchaud. The operation is as follows- .Itwill be apparent to persons 'skilled in the art Athat the indicator nut 3I- with pin 32 4"rides up anddown on the spindle threads i22'as the valvel (not shown) or otherl apparatus is o perated-andthepin 32, due to the helical slot'v IE moves clockwise and counter-clockwise. The

helical Apath taken by the pin 32 guides the os- `cillating sleeve '21. so that the index markorfdot '30 registers the openI and shut-positionsfof the Vvalve or other apparatus. The stationary l-sleeve I5 is fastened tothe housing 2 andy bears marks for the open and shut positions which register with a mark-orfdot on-the oscillating lsleeve 21. 'I'he oscillating `sleeve v21V' should be heldin a constant axialposition. The indicator nut l3| derives its verticalmovement from the` rotation of thespindle 2| which raises orlowers the nut on the threads 22. The Iprojecting pin 32,.'by means of the helical slots I6 the stationary sleeve I5, causes the nut 3| also to oscilsleeve fwhich rests onh 'the shoulder of. the Yspinldie, f .thef frictional engagement .betweenfsaid flange and shoulder serv-ing to cause .the oscillatory'lsleeveto rotatewithfthe, spindle, said flange `vhaving an ,indicator Lat its top .adapted .to register lwith'said indicia, a longitudinally and rotatably nflovable ring mounted '.on 'the threads onsaid spindle, and means on saidring engaginglthe Vslots r in both sleeves, said meansbeing actuated .byj the movement of the spindleto limit oscillation' of y.

said oscillatory. sleeve.

.2.' An .adjustable indicator. for. remote control of valves comprising., a housing, a .threadedspinldief in said housing, .astationary,r` sleeve in said housinghaving a plate. atits upper end in a planev atA right .angles to the .axis .ofsaid spindle and adjacent .the open end of the housing, said plate having visible indicia thereon, helical slots said. sleeve, an .oscillating sleeve inside vsaid stationary sleeve having vertical slots Which-register .with fthe helicalslots in the stationary sleeve,

`a. movable indicator .carried .by said oscillating late from the dopen to .the shu position as the nut 3| is raised or lowered. From the foregoing description it will be seen thatllthe sleeve .21 is only partially rotated and 'that this is also true of the nut 3|. The partial-rotationv vofthe nut 3| is due to the frictionalengagement of its threads with those of the spindle.' This partial rotation continues until. the pin 32 contaotsone wall of the helical slot I 6 in the stationary sleeve, .atl-Which point the nut will start on its upward travel While still ycontinuing its partial rotation.

Itwill be clear to those skilled `in the artthat the spindle imparts partial rotation to both the .oscillating sleeve and the annular threaded nut 3| due to the frctional engagement of -these parts with the spindle and this partialmovement will .continue until the pin strikes one Wall-ofa helivcal slot I6 in the stationary sleeve Il5 upon which y by the pin 32 reaching the upper-orlower end =of the helical slot in VWhich it is traveling; 'IheF-upward movement of the pin 32 'along the wall of .the slot' I6 is facilitated by the 'pressure -offtlhe .trailing wall of slot' 28 as the sleeveis rotated by movement of the spindle.' l

sleeve a plane .parallel ywith the `indicia, means ron said oscillating sleeve which frictionally. en# vgages `said spindle to4 move said indicator .as .the valve is `opened or. closed, and means mounted on the; .threads on ythe spindle which :eng-ages a .vertical anda helicalslot. l

3.'An adjustable indicator for remote control ofvalves.; comprising, a housing, a shouldered rspindlein. said housing-.threads in said spindle, .a stationary member mounted. a .plane at right .angles `to thelaxis ofthe spindle having indicia --thereon cooperating with anindicator, a sleeve yin fsaid housingy integral with the stationary memfber `and vhaving a plurality voihelical slots in its wall, an oscillatory sleeve, .a flange .atits top `Whichres'ts. on the .shoulder on said spindle said sleevesv andv spindle .being concentric,` said flange having an indicator at its topadapted to register ,with said indicia, vsaid oscillatory sleeve, having a plurality of vertical slots which register with said helical slots, a longitudinally movable .ring mountedv on. the threads on said spindle, a pin .carried by `said ring which extends'through a ver- ,tical slot .and into a helical slot, the frictional .engagement .between saidv liange and shoulder A servingrto cause said .oscillatory sleeve to rotate,

l It will be. clear to those skilledin the art that.

my device is not limited to ships, for this-com- .bination `of mechanical movements is "adaptable Yfor .indicating pu-rposesin ships,refineries," power Havingv described my invention what "I regard --as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent is:

Yl.v An .adjustable indicator for remote control of valves;v comprising, ya housing, va, shouldered .spindle .in saidv housing, threads von-said spindle, a stationary member mounted in a plane a'tr-i'ght Aangles to the .axis of-the spindle 'having indicia' thereon cooperating with an indicaton-a sleeve integral .with .said .stationary member mounted in said housing, an oscillatory sleeve nested in the stationary sleeve, there .being registering'slots in said sleeves, a flange at the top of the oscillatory -whereby when the spindleis rotated the. indicator will. zbemoved. to show the position ofthe valve.

4. An adjustable indicator forremote :control of .va1ves;,comprising, a` housing, a shouldered spindle in said housing, threadson said spindle,

a vstationary membermounted 'ina plane .atright angles. to the .axis of the spindlehaving indicia thereon cooperating with an indicator, a sleeve insaid housing integral with the vstationary memrber and having .a helical .slotin its wall, an :oscillatorysleevehaving avertical slot in itswall which registers with said helical slot said sleeves andspindle .being concentric, means on said oscillatoryrsleeve to. frictionally engage saidshoulder,

anindicatoi-,at the top .of said :sleeveadaptedto register with saidndicia, a.longitudinally.mov

able ring, mounted on the threads on said spindle, a pin carried. by :saidfringwhich extends through vthe. vvertical and into the helicalv slot, :the frictional .engagement between vsaid flange and shoulder servingto cause ,said -oscillatory sleeve torotateywhereby when the yspindle is rotated theinyd'lfilffvvill,be 'moved to .show the positionofthe valve. l v

.5. lladjustable...indicator. for. remote-f control of valves; comprising, a housing, a cover for said housing, a rotatable spindle mounted insaid housing, astationarymemDer mounted in a plane at right anglesto the axis` of the spindle having indicia thereon cooperating with an indicator, said spindle having a threaded portion, a shoulder on said spindle at the upperfend ofjsaid threaded portion, a ringy having a partially spherical outer surface mounted on said threads, a sleeve integral With said stationary member and nested in said housing, there being. heli-cal y slots in its wall, an oscillatory sleeve, nested in said stationary sleeve, there being vertical slots in its Wall adapted to register with the. helical slots, a radially projecting pin on said ring which projects through a vertical slot and into a helical lslot, a flange at the top of said oscillatory sleevewhich rests upon the shoulder on said spindle, said flange having anindicator which registers With the indicia. whereby when the spindle is rotated the indicator will show.

the` valve. v

6. An adjustable indicator dor remote'control of valves; comprising, a housing, a coverfor said housing, a rotatable spindle mounted in said housing, said spindle having a threaded portion, a shoulderat the top of said threadedtportion, a member having a partially spherical'outer surface mounted on said threads, a stationary member mounted in a plane at right angles to the axis of the spindle having indicia thereon, a sleeve integral with said stationary member andnested in said housing, therebeinga helical slot in its wall, an oscillatory sleeve in said stationary sleeve, there being a Avertical slot in its wall adapted to register with the helical slot, a radially projecting pin on said member which projects.,

tthrough a vertical slot and into a helical slot, and a flange at the top of said oscillatory sleeve which rests upon the shoulder on said spindle, said flange having an indicator which registers with the indicia, whereby when the spindle is rotated the indicator will show the position of the valve.

7. An adjustable indicator for remote control of valves; comprising, a housing, a cover for said housing, a rotatable spindle mounted in said housing, a stationary member having indicia thereon mounted in a` plane at right angles to theaxis of the spindle, said spindle having a threaded portion, a shoulder ,on said spindle at the top of said threaded portion, a member having a partially spherical outer surface mounted on said threads, a sleeve .integral with said stationary member and nested in said housing, there being Aa helical slot in its Wall, an oscillatory sleeve nested in said stationary sleeve, there being a vertical slot in its vvall adapted to register With the helical slot, means carried by said threaded member which engages registering slots, a flange on the top of said oscillatory sleeve, which rests on the shoulder on said spindle, said ange having an indicator which registers with `the indicia, wherebyvvhen the spindle is rotated the indicator Will show the positionA of the valve.

8. An adjustable indicator for remote4 control of valves; comprising, a housing, a cover for said housing, a rotatable v spindle mounted in said hogusin'g, a stationary member mounted in a plane at right angles tothe axis of the spindle having indicia thereon cooperating With an indicator, said spindle having a threaded'portion, a shoulder at the top of vsaid threaded portion, a member having a partially spherical outer surface mounted on said threads, a sleeve integral with said stationary member'and nested'in said the position of housing, there being a helical slot its Wall, an oscillatory sleeve in said stationary sleeve, there being a vertical slot in its Wall adapted to regis- 1ter with the helical slot, an upwardly extending flange at. the top of said oscillatory sleeve, means carriedby said member which engages registering slots, andan indicator at the top of said v:oscillatorysleeve which registers with said indicia a ange at the top of said oscillatory sleeve, the, frictional engagement between said flange andsaid shoulder serving to cause said sleeve to 'rotaterwhereby when the spindle is rotated the indicator Will show the position of the valve.

housing one of which is stationary, the other voscillates, there being respectively helical and vertical registering slots in said sleeves, a flange atfthe top kof the stationary sleeve in a plane at right angles to the axis of the spindle, indicia .on said flange, an indicator which registers with said lindicia ycarried by the oscillating sleeve, means on said sleeve to friotionally engage said spindle, and means on said member which coacts with the slots in said sleeve to guide the indicator ,proportionably as the valve is opened or closed.

10. An adjustable indicator for remote control of valves; comprising, a housing, a rotatable Athreaded spindle in said housing, a stationary lmember in a plane at right angles to the axis of said spindle, indicia thereon which cooperates with an indicator, a sleeve in said housing integral-With said stationary member having helical slots therein, an oscillatory sleeve, said sleeve and spindle being concentric, means on said oscillatory sleeve to frictionally engage said spindle, said means having an indicator adapted to register With said indicia, said oscillatory sleeve having vertical slots therein', a, rotatable member mounted on said threads which is frictionally rotated and vertically moved by said threads,

.and means on said member which engages a vertical and a helical slot, said means being actuated by the movement of the spindle to limit oscillation of said oscillatory sleeve.

1l. An adjustable indicator for remote control ofvalves;Y comprising, a housing, a shouldered spindle in said housing, a stationary member n having indicia thereon cooperating with an indicator, a sleeve in said housing integral with said stationary member and having helical slots therein, an oscillatory sleeve having vertical slots therein said sleeve and spindle being concentric, a flange at the top of said oscillatory sleeve which rests on the shoulder on the spindle, said vilange having an indicator at its top adapted to register with the indicia on the stationary member, alongitudinally movable ring mounted on the threads on saidr spindle, the frictional engagement between said flange and said shoulder serving to causek said sleeve to partially rotate, means on said ring which engages a vertical and a helical slot, said means actuated by the movementor` the spindle to limit oscillation of said oscillatory sleeve.

' EDWARD L. HADDEN. 

